Walrus Audio collaborates with Yvette Young on signature QI Etherealizer Parallel Grains + Delay + Chorus + Reverb Pedal
When I first clocked this - it immediately brought to mind my recently acquired AC Noises Ricorda Granualar Reverb, amd while there is some degree of overlap between the two - each device is also very distinctive in its own way. Where the QI Etherealizer adds Chorus, and Parallel as well as Series Routing.
It’s a device that perfectly covers Yvette’s key tones in the one device.
Controls - MIX } Mix / Dry (Series / Parallel), Grain, Delay, Chorus; MAIN } Mix / Dry (Series / Parallel), Tone (Resonant LPF), Space (Hall Reverb), Flow (Routing) : Series / Parallel, Bypass Footswitch (Bypass + Freeze Fsw = Preset); GRAINS } Grain Mix, X (Grains Interval / Density), Playback : x1 / x2 / x.5 / Reverse / Random, Grain Mode : Grain Cloud / Phrase Sample, Freeze Footswitch; DELAY } Delay Mix, Delay Time, Feedback, Delay Divisions : Quarter / Dotted Eighth / Eighth; CHORUS } Chorus Mix, Rate, Depth, Chorus Mode : Tri / Stereo, TAP/OSC Fooswitch.
Rear Ports : MIDI In, MIDI Thru, USB-C, 9V DC [-] 300mA, In Mono (L), In Stereo (R), Out Mono (L), Out Stereo (R).
I’ve often said that format matters to me, and were I to acquire the QI Etherealizer - it would likely be on the current Strymon BigSky MX slot - which is a fairly significant pedal for me. I was able to fit the AC Noises Ricorda onto a different much smaller slot - that’s a much more flexible pedal for me in how it fits within my rig.
I really like this device - I guess it could also step in on the Hologram Microcosm slot. While I can mostly recreate the sounds of the QI with pedals already in my chain - albeit I would need something extra to get those 4 effects in parallel! So it’s definitely a very unique device!
At $449 it’s a fairly significant investment, but considering everything that’s onboard this device - it’s probably a very fair price. The QI Etherealizer is up for pre-orders currently on most dealer sites, and you can read up more on this device on the Walrus Audio Website.
Key Features
- Crafted in collaboration with genre-defining math-rocker Yvette Young — leader of her band Covet, a boundary-pushing guitarist, and a true stompbox obsessive
- Designed to transform your signal from standard 6-string sounds to expansive waves of textured (and sometimes chaotic) ambience
- 3 dedicated effects sections (Chorus, Grain, and Delay) to explore, along with a global reverb (Space)
- Gives you the ability to run all 3 effects in either series or parallel operation
- Effects can be bypassed for more traditional tones and textures
- Mix/Dry knob controls wet/dry mix in Series mode and dictates the level of your dry signal in Parallel mode
- Grain section samples, modulates, and plays back your signal with 2 distinct voices: Grain Cloud and Phrase Sample
- 5 playback modes to transform your Grain samples, ranging from normal speed to reverse to octave effects and more
- X knob unlocks voice-specific parameters when Grain mode is selected
- Freeze footswitch unlocks momentary mayhem when you’re in Grain mode
- Chorus section with 2 styles to choose from: Tri Chorus and Stereo Chorus
- Crystal clear digital Delay section with up to 2 seconds of repeat time
- Delay section sports a handy subdivision switch and a tap tempo/self-oscillation footswitch
- 3 preset slots to save your favorite sounds
- True stereo I/O; 1/8-in. MIDI In/Thru jacks
- USB-C port to upgrade your pedal with future firmware updates
- Features original artwork from Yvette Young herself
- Dimensions: 5.83” x 4.87” x 2.30” including hardware / 148mm x 124mm x 58mm
- MAP / RRP : $449 / €519 / £449
Demos
![First-hand Impressions of the Walrus Audio Mako Series II [M1] High-Fidelity Modulation Machine](https://d6a2e7ghqts3o.cloudfront.net/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/556/2024-GPX-Walrus-Audio-Mako-II-M1-Y-7001.jpg "First-hand Impressions of the Walrus Audio Mako Series II [M1] High-Fidelity Modulation Machine")
